.bash_history is not created in my Home directory

Question

Level 4

1,570 points

.bash_history is not created in my Home directory

I noticed that I can't use command history in Terminal after I quit it. Upon looking closer at the issue, I also noticed that it wouldn't create .bash_history in my Home folder.

Question: Why?

Additional Info: I created a new account, copied all my preferences there, and sure enough, I could use the command history in the Terminal from it. But not from my account.

I created .bash_history file manually, and even put in a few commands there, but alas, it wouldn't even read from it!!!

So, what gives?

Thanks.

Posted on Oct 6, 2005 3:35 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Tim Nolan

Level 1

105 points

Oct 7, 2005 8:31 AM in response to Ast A. Moore

Hi Ast,

Did you try using the "set -o history", without the quotes, at the command line in Terminal? This should save the last 500 commands entered from the Command Line. This 500 value is saved in the HISTSIZE variable. The .bash_history file should be created and you should be able to use the "history" command to view these entries. For more details, take a look at the man page for bash, by entering:

man bash

On the Command Line in Terminal.

Tim

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 7, 2005 8:49 AM in response to Ast A. Moore

Ast,

Here's a silly question. Are you sure you're using bash as your shell? If you upgraded from 10.2, bash isn't set as your default shell.

echo $SHELL

Reply

Answer 3

Ast A. Moore Author

Level 4

1,570 points

Oct 7, 2005 9:09 AM in response to Jeff Hubbach

Here's a silly question. Are you sure you're using bash as your shell? If you upgraded from 10.2, bash isn't set as your default shell.

Holy smokes, Jeff, dude! Right on, man! I'm in tcsh!!!! You're right, I did upgrade from Jaguar!

It's my original question that was silly, not yours.

See, my Mac came with Jaguar. Later I got a new HD and installed Panther on it. And MUCH later, I upgraded the original install of Jaguar to Tiger!

Thanks a lot, Jeff! So, what beer should I get for ya? 😉

Reply